Railway car construction with material handling means



Jan. 29, 1957 w. R. WALTERS 2,779,493

RAILWAY CAR CONSTRUCTION WITH MATERIAL HANDLING MEANS 3 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed May l, 1953 im m m a j@ WJ f..

Jan. 29, 1957 w. R. WALTERS 2,779,493

RALWAY CAR CONSTRUCTION WITH MATERIAL HANDLING MEANS Filed May 1, 1953 r Jan. 29, 1957 w. R. WALTERS 2,779,493

RAILWAY CAR CONSTRUCTION WITH MATERIAL HANDLING MEANS 3. Sheets-Sheet yI5 Filed May l, 1 955 United States Patent RAILWAY CAR CONSTRUCTION WITH MATERIAL HANDLING MEANS William R. Walters, Cos Cob, Conn. Application May 1, 1953, Serial No. 352,503 21 Claims. (Cl. 214-522) This invention relates to improvements in railway car constructions and it consists of the matters hereinafter.

described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is more especially concerned with acar construction generally of the open top or gondola type for carrying bulk material of which railway ballast, dirt, fouling material removed in cleaning ballast, and the like are examples.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a car construction which shall provide new and improved means whereby bulk material, such for example as railroad ballast, dirt or fouling material removed from railroad ballast and the like, may be distributed along the right of way as currently discharged into the car structure, or. to convey material discharged into the car structure at one or more points and later selectively to discharge the material at either side of the track as desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a car construction for use in connection with railway ballast conditioning operations for the purpose of storing and carrying large volumes of the fouling material which has been removed from the ballast in such `an operation to a dilerent place of disposal, when it is not desired, convenient, or practicable to dispose of such material adjacent the point of removal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a car construction of this kind into one end of which such material may be loaded and evenly distributed the full length of the multiple car structure andmay also be easily unloaded from one end thereof to selectively discharge the material upon the right of way at either side of the track thereof.

Again it is an object of the invention to provide a car construction of the kind which includes two cars, generally of the gondola type but with adjacent ends which 2,779,493 Patented Jan. 29, i957 including a novel conveyor arrangement for discharging are open, coupled together with an articulated connecwill not prevent the movement of material moving scraper means back and forth over the joint between adjacent ends of the cars.

Also it is an object of the invention to provide a car construction of this kind having a novel scraper and drag line scraper means that may be operated to move the material from that end of the car and into which it is loaded toward the other end of the car for storageof such material and shall also beoperable to move the material back to the first mentioned end for discharge laterally of the car at said rst mentioned end.

Furthermore it is an object'of the invention to pro-` material along the right of way and selectively at dilerent distances from either side of the car.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, as well as others, along with the advantages thereof, will more fully appear as the specication proceeds.

ln the drawings:

Fig. l is a View in side elevation of a multiple dirt disposal car construction, embodying the preferred form of the invention, for use in connection with ballast cleaning apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the car arrangement.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view through a part of the improved car construction as taken on the line 3-3 and on a scale enlarged over that of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view through another part of the car as taken on the line 4-4 and on a scale enlarged over that of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a dirt moving scraper `embodied in the improved car construction and which will be described in more detail later.

Fig. V6 is a horizontal sectional view through a part of the improved car construction as taken on the line 6-6 and on a scale enlarged over that of Fig. l.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal detail vertical sectional view as taken on the line 7-7 and on a scale enlarged over-` car has couplers at its ends whereby they may be coupled together and also coupled to other cars of a railway train.

Said car bodies include sides and one end, the other and adjacent ends of the bodies being open and being arranged in longitudinally spaced relation where they are coupled together. Each car also has a lioor. Means are also provided between the open ends of the bodies and associated floor parts to provide an articulated connection therefor which alords a continuity of body space for the two cars for receiving a load of ballast dirt or bulk material to be transported, distributed or otherwise handled.

The body of one of the cars, preferably that which is the advance or front car of the two car construction is formed to provide a longitudinally extending recess that opens through both sides of the body between its ends, the top of this recess being bounded by a raised part of the lioor of that car. This part of said car is also provided at the front end with an opening through which bulk material may be discharged upon one end of a con veyor disposed in this recess. Said conveyor is pivoted l so either direction by mechanism located in an out of the A at said end upon a turn table having a vertical axis and.

wliereby the other `end of the conveyor may be swung to extend out through either side of the recess so as to discharge material at a point outwardly of either side of' the car. Suitable power means are provided for swinging the conveyor from an out of the way position in the recess parallel with the car body toward an operative position projecting from either side of the car. Said conveyor also includes an endless belt and carries its own motor means for driving the same.

Associated with and disposed within the bodies of the two cars is a scraper mechanism actuated by drag lines operable by suitable winch means mounted on the front endv ofthe first car. Bulk material is loadedinto the,

front end of the first car as for example from the .dirt discharge elevator of a ballastv conditioning car to which the front end of the irst car is coupled.

Thus, when the bulk material or dirt piles up in the front end of the first car the scraper and drag lines are operated to move the material into the second car, the storage space for such material then approximates the combined volume of the interiors of both car bodies and the articulated connection between the adjacent ends thereof.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the car construction illustrated comprises two railway cars, each indicated as 3 and 4 the underframes each include a` center sill 14.

and side sills supported from, the center silll by body holsters 16. The underframeof each car is mounted at its ends upon suitable trucks 17, each truck having a pair of` axles 18J journalledrtherein inthe usual manner with eachlaxle havinga pair of wheels 19A which appear in full lines in Figs. l and 2 andin dotted lines in Figs. 3, and 4. At each` end of the center sill of each car is the conventional draft rigging (not shown), each of which includes a coupler shank and head 29-20 whereby the cars 10 and 11 respectively mayl be vcoupled together as in Fig. l and coupled to other cars (not shown),

making up a railway work train such for example asV constitutes a railway ballast conditioning train.

EachV car 10 and. 11 includes a car body 21-22 of substantially the open top gondola type with certain,

modifications `of the bodies and the underframes of the respective cars.V The material holding body part of the front car is shorter than that of the rear carby reason of a platform 23 at the front end thereof, as best appears in Figs. 1 and 2.

As shown, the body Zit-of the front car also includes a Isubiloor 25, upright sides 26 and an upright front end 27 which defines the rear end of the aforesaid platform, the sides extending to and terminating at the rear end of the underframe of the car. Rear' end parts of the sides and floor coact to provide an open rear en-d of theA body of the car. Between the ends of the car body is a floor 2.8` which at its rear end joins the rear end off the sub-oor 25 by means of a ramp 29 and whichv at its front end joins the ltop `of the front end by an ,i11- clined wall 30. The floor is narrower than and is` ar-V ranged centrally of the subfloor 25, the sides of the floor being joined to the sides ofV the body along. a line below the top thereof by means of inclined walls 31.

These inclined walls terminate short of the fron-tend of the car body, being joined to the inclined corner wallsl 32. These corner ,walls and the inclined walls 30-31 coa-ct to atiord a hopper like end for the body and which walls coact with andjoin the floor in the vicinity ofV a*- materialrdischarge opening 33 in the front endl of the Y opens through both sides 4of the car for a purpose which will appear later.

The body Z2 of the rear car includes a oor 35 disposed in the plane of the sub-floor 25 of the first car andA upright side walls 36. Spaced forwardly of the rear` end lof the caris an upright rear end wall 37 and centrally of` said wall and extending above the ltop edge thereof is a structural column 38 which will be more fully described-later. The mid-portion ofthe oor correspondsv in width with 'that of the floor portion 28. Extending upwardly from the sides of the mid portion of the iloor are inclined walls 39 that join at the top with the side walls 36 along a line disposed substantially in the same plane as the tops of the inclined walls 31 of the front car. At the rear end of this mid portion of the iloor is an inclined wall 40 which at its sides joins the side walls of the body. The front ends of the inclined walls 39 extend toward and join the front ends of the adjacent side walls 36.

With the structure shown `and described herein the rear end portion 25E of the door of the front car and the front end portion 35E of the floor of `the rear car extend the full width of the cars, as best appears in Fig. 2.

A bridge plate 41, which is as wide as 'the oor portions 25E-3S'E, is arranged to bridge the space between the adjacent ends of floors of the two car bodies and long enough to have its ends overlap parts of said oor 42 and 43 respectively are fixed in such a manner as to, provide vertical spaces therebetween in which are slidably engaged the end marginal parts of upright panels- 44. The parts just mentioned provide an articulated connection between the adjacent ends of the car bodies andwhich parts have a limited longitudinal slidng movement relative tothe associated parts of the respective car body, which connection affords a continuity of `interior for the car body while permitting relative movement between said bodies as in brake application and as when` the cars are tak-ing curves and switches in the tracky over which they operate.

In therecess 25.a a bulk material discharge `conveyor is located, indicated as a whole at 4S, and which best appearsin Figs. 6 and 7. This conveyor embodies a frame 46, which includes longitudinal side members iff-47V and at-fryont end member 48, which members may be conveniently made of channels. At the front and rear ends of the frames are journalled cross shafts 49 and 50 respectively, which carry rollers 51-52 respectively and aboutV which is trained an endless belt a. At points between said shafts @and 5i) are other cross shafts 52 upon which are journalled other rollers 53 arranged to affordk rolling support for the upper and lower laps of the belt between the rollers E1-SZ.

The side members 47-47 of the frame 46 are furtherconnected at the bottom by a cross bar 55, the

center line thereof being arranged in the plane of the axis of; the materialdischarge opening 33. A center bearing v56.is iixed tothe `sub-floor 25 below said bar in the v plane of said axis, a center pin 56a passing-through'said barand` bearing and about which the conveyor as a Whole thatdepend from the side frame members 47 roll on said track so as to support that end of' the conveyorrearwardlyv thereof. The upper surfaces ofthe corners formed' by thefjunotion of the side and end frame rnern bers 47-48 areprovided with upright brackets 59 in.: which are journalled rollers 66 Ithat engage with the un- 1 derside of a circular track plate 61 depending from lthe door portion 2S concentric with the discharge opening 33, whichpasses therethrough and with the circular trackV 57 'before mentioned. rl`he rollers 58 and 60, as willpbe l noted from Figs. 6 and 7, are disposed upon opposite sides of the axis of the pin 56 and opening 33 and coact with the tracks 57 and 61 in preventing tipping of the rear. end of the conveyor andl thereore hold the conveyor evenly.

IThe normal inoperative` position of the conveyor isV shown in full lines in Fig. 6 and in this position it extends longitudinally of the car and disposed entirely within the planes of the sides of the car. However, this conveyor may be swung about the axis `of the pin 56a so as to dispose its unsupported end outwardly of either side of the car, several positions being shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The means for so swinging the conveyor between selected positions is best shown in Fig. 6 and which includes a power cylinder 62 at each side of the rear end of an associated frame member 47 of the conveyor. The rear end of each cylinder is pivoted to swing about a vertical axis connection 63 carried by an associated bracket 64 on the outer Side of a frame member 47. A piston 62a slides in each cylinder, this piston being connected to one end of a rod 62b which slides through the front end of the cylinder. The front end of this rod carries a bracket 65 in which are journalled a set of pulleys 66. A second pulley 67 is disposed forwardly of the first members and said second set of pulleys is journalled to turn about a vertical axis 68 carried by a bracket 69 on the same side of the car. A cable 70 is fixed to each bracket 69 and extends rearwardly to pass about one pulley of the set 66 and back to and about one of the pulleys of the set 68 and then back around the other pulley of the first set and then forwardly to the second pulley of the second set. The other end of each cable has a turn buckle 71 thereon which is xed at one end t0 a part f the side of the car. Just forward of the turn buckle is a cable guider 72.

When the conveyor is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 6, each piston 62a rests at a point midway between the ends of its associated cylinder 62. By admitting pressure fluid to opposite ends of both cylinders the pistons 62EL thereof will move in opposite directions. This will cause the extension of the rod 62b of one cylinder 62 and the retraction of the rod of the other cylinder. These rods will then operate effectively to shorten one cable 70 and lengthen the other cable so that the conveyor as a whole will be swung to extend at desired angles with respect to either side of the car, say for example as shown in dotted 'lines in Fig. 2.

The frame of the conveyor 45 carries its own power means for driving the belt 45a thereof (see Figs. 6 and 7). Each side frame member i7 carries toward its front end a laterally extending platform 75 and upon each platform is mounted an electric motor 76. The end of the armature shaft of each motor that faces the associated frame member 47 carries a pinion 77 and each pinion meshes with a gear 78 on each end of a cross shaft 79, which shaft 79 is journalled in said frame members. Between one of said frame members 47 and gear 78 a sprocket 8o is fixed to the shaft 79 and on the corresponding end of the shaft 49 is a second sprocket 81, there being a chain 80a trained about said sprockets and whereby the belt 45a is driven with its top lap running toward the rear or outer end thereof.

The platforms '75 carry rollers $2 and 33 respectively, the purpose of which is to aord guided engagement for parts of the cable 7l) as the conveyor is swung between the various'selected positions. 4

In Fig. is shown in perspective a drag line scraper indicatedV as a whole by the numeral 85. This scraper when viewed in plan is of a U shape and includes upright sides S6 and a curved part 7 connecting one end of said sidesLwhich ends have ears 3S on the outside thereof. The ends of a pair of saddle chains 89 are connected to said ears, the other end of said chains being connected together by a centerl ring S921. The bottom of the free ends of the sides 36 `are connected by a relatively fiat scraper blade 90 and the tops of said ends of said sides are connected by a bridge bar 91. Also the free ends of the sides are providedat the bottom with apertured ears 92, one en d of a pair of saddle chains 93 beiitconnected to said ears and the other ends thereof are' connected together by a ring 93a.

This scraper is about as wide as the constricted floor portions 28-35. The bottom edge of the scraper rides therein with the blade and bar 91 facing in the direc-i tion of the movement of said scraper in active operation.

Associated with the scraper for moving the same longitudinally of the car bodies 26-36 and the bridge plate 40 is a pair of drag lines 95 and 96 respectively, one end of the line 95 after passing about La pulley 97 being operatively attached to the ring 89a. The pulley 97 is mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis afforded by a bracket 98 which in turn is so monnted in the upper end of the column 38 as to swing about a vertical axis. Also one end of the drag line 96 is connected to the ring 93a associated with the scraper.

On the front end platform 23 of the front car a suitable power driven winch mechanism is mounted which includes a power unit 100 such as an internal combustion engine and a pair of winch drums 101-102, each of which may be driven in either direction. The'other ends of the drag lines 95-96 are trained about rollers 103 and 104 in the front end of the first car to then each pass to and be operatively engaged upon associated drums 10i- 102. The winch mechanism has suitable conventional means (not shown) included therein and whereby when the drum of one winch is being power driven from the engine 100, the drum of the other winch runs free and vice versa.

In Fig. 2 the blade end of the scraper is shown as facing toward the front car 10 so that when the line 96 is being wound up on its winch drum 192 the scraper 85 will be dragged toward the front end of the first car, the other line then being the paying out line. To reverse the direction of movement of the scraper to return it to the rear end of the rear car, the line 95 is caused to be wound upon its winch drum with the line 96 then operating as the pay out line. To reverse the direction of the scraping operation for the scraper 85 the lines 95-96 are detached therefrom and the scraper turned end for end so that the blade end thereof is faced toward the rear end of the rear car 11. The associated end of the line 95 is then attached to the ring 93'sl and the associated end of the line 96 is then attached to the ring 89a. The operative function of the scraper is then toward the rear end of the rear car.

As before mentioned, the improved car construction has especial advantage when positioned behind the ballast cleaning car (not shown) in a ballast conditioning train of cars and which cleaning car is the leading car in such a train. Such a ballast cleaning car includes a dirt or ballast fouling material elevating conveyor 105 at its rear end, the rear end of said conveyor overhanging the front end of the iirst car (see Fig. l) so as to discharge By 'successive operation of the drag lines 95 and 96 and scraper 85, the dirt and waste material discharged into the front end of the first car may be distributed evenly Vover or throughout the interior of the dual construction car so that a large volume of such dirt and waste material may be carried in the car for storage purpose in a working of the ballast cleaning car should it not be required or feasible immediately to discharge the material v,

along the right of way by means of the conveyor 45.

It is pointed out that as the dirt and waste material is i' being discharged into the front end of the first car, a part thereof fills up the opening 33 and is bottomed on that part ot' the conveyor belt 45a beneath the same, thus? skies-,49s

forming` a seal unless the belt of the conveyor is operatedv tov remove the material. i

IWhen the work train arrives at a site where wayside conditions are favorable for discharging the accumulated dirt and waste material or at a point where such material is desired, as the case may be, the scraper 85 is reversed end for end as before described. The conveyor 45 is then selectively swung to extend outwardly of the desi'red side of the car and the motors 76 then energizedto drive the belt 45a of the conveyor. A run oit then occurs of the material on the belt beneath the opening 331. As the waste material ows through this opening and then becomes depleted thereabove, the drag line scraper is further actuated to drag dirt from the car bodies toward the opening 33 so that it may pass therethrough to the conveyor below for discharge from the outer end thereof. Thus, as the material is being discharged by the conveyor other material is brought to the front end of the iirstcar and discharged out through the opening 33 onto the conveyor for disposal. This clearing of the car body maybe carried on whether the train is stationary or is under way.

Where wayside conditions permit, and when so desired, the dirt and waste material may be directly dumped or discharged from the first car as it is discharged thereinto, it being assumed of course that the conveyor is in operation. Under such conditions the drag lines and scraper may remain idle. However, since the capacity of the conveyor normally exceeds the volume of foul material which is currently discharged into the car during a ballast cleaning operation, if desired, the drag line scraper may also be operated to supply dirt to the conveyor if so desired.

With a construction of the kind described a large volume of -Waste material removed from the ballast may be stored and carried to a place of convenient disposal. Also if wayside conditions permit and when desired such waste material may be discharged from the front car as fast as it is discharged into said car as a result of the ballast conditioning operation.

While' the improved car construction has been described as being particularly useful in a ballast conditioning work train for carrying, storing and distributing the Waste material removed from the ballast, it is obvious that such a car may advantageously be used for transporting, storing and distributing other materials.

I claim as my invention:

1. A bulk material conveying and distributing railroad carV construction embodying therein an underframe and wheeled means for running engagement upon the rails of a-railway track, a car body mounted upon said underfrarne, said car body having a iloor and sides the floor being located above the underfrarne, at least in part, to provide a space between the top of the underfrarne and the underside of the floor, elongated conveyor means mounted under the car floor in said space, means providing a substantially vertical axis adjacent one end of the conveyor means and about which axis the conveyor means can be. swung from an inoperative position disposed longitudinally under the car door into selected operative positions in which the other end of the conveyor means extends outwardly beyond either side of the car body, and meansfor imparting swinging movement to the conveyor means between said positions, said floor of the car body having an opening therein for the passage of the bulk material from the car body on to that end of the conveyor means adjacent the said vertical axis.

42. A bulk material conveying and distributing railroad ca'rconstr'uction embodying therein an underframe and wheeledmeansfor running engagement upon the rails of a lrailway track, a car body mounted upon said underframe, said car bodyV having a door and sides the door being located above the underfrarne, at least in part, to

provide a space between the top of the underframe and the underside of the floor, elongated conveyor means mounted under the car floor in said space, means'pr. viding a substantially vertical axis adjacent one-end of the conveyor means and about which axis the conveyor'.

means can be swung from an inoperative position disposed longitudinally under the car oor into selected operative positions in which the other end of the conveyor means extends outwardly beyond either side of the car` body, means for imparting swinging movement to the' conveyor means between said positions, said floor of the` 3. A bulk material conveying and distributing railroad car construction embodying therein an underframe and.

wheeled means for running engagement upon the rails` of a railway track', a car body mounted upon said underframe, said car body having a oor, side walls and at least one end wall the floor being located above the underframe, at least in part, to provide a space between the top of the underframe and the underside of the floor, elongated conveyor means mounted under the car floor in said space, means providing a substantially vertical axis adjacent one end of the conveyor means and about which axis the conveyor means can be swung from an inoperative position disposed longitudinally under the car oor into selected operative positions in which the other endV of the conveyor means extends outwardly beyond either side of the car body, said axis being adjacent an end wall of the car body, means for imparting swinging movement to the conveyor means between said positions, said floor of the car body having an opening therein for the passage of the bulk material from the car body on to that end of the conveyor means adjacent the said vertical axis.

4. A bulk material conveying and distributing railroad car construction embodying therein an underfrarne and wheeled means for running engagement upon the rails of a railway track, a car body mounted upon said underframe, said car body having a floor, side walls and at least one end wall the door being located above the underframe, at least in part, to provide a space between the top of the underframe and the underside of the floor, elongated conveyor means mounted under the car floor in said space, means providing a substantially vertical axis adjacent one end of the conveyor means and about which axis the conveyor means can be swung from an inoperative position disposed longitudinally under the car iloor into selected operative positions in which the other end of the conveyor means extends outwardly beyond either side of the car body, said axis being adjacent an end wall of the car body, means for imparting swingingy movement to the conveyor means between said positions, said floor of the car body having an opening therein for the passage of the bulk material from the car body on to that end of the conveyor means adjacent the said vertical axis, and means for moving bulk material from positions Vin the car body spaced longitudinally from said iloor opening to said fioor'opening for passage therethrough and o-n to said conveyor means.

5; A bulk material conveying and distributing railroad car construction embodying therein an underframe and wheeled means for running engagement upon the rails of a railway track, a car body mounted upon said underframe, said car body having a floor, side walls and at least one end wall the door being located above the underframe, at least in part, to provide a space between the top of the underfrarne and the underside of the floor,

ative position disposed longitudinally under the car door ammassi..

into selected operative-positions in which the other end of4 the conveyor means extends outwardly beyond either side of the car body, said axis being adjacent an end wall of the car body, means for imparting swinging movement to the conveyor means between said positions, said oor of the car body having an opening therein for the passage oi the bulk material from the car body on to that end of the conveyor means adjacent the said vertical axis, and means selectively operable to move material longitudinally away from said opening position or from positions spaced longitudinally thereof tov/ard said opening.

6. A bulk material conveying and distributing railroad car construction embodying therein an underframe and wheeled means for running engagement upon the rails of a railway track, a car body mounted upon said underframe, said car body having a floor and sides the floor being located above the underframe, at least in part, to provide a space between the top of the underframe and the underside of the floor, elongated conveyor means mounted under the car floor in said space, means providing a substantially vertical axis adjacent one end of the conveyor means and about which axis the conveyor means can be swung from an inoperative position disposed longitudinally under the car iloor into selected operative positions in which the other end of the conveyor means extends outwardly beyond either side of the car body, means for imparting swinging movement to the conveyor means between said positions, said means including coacting means carried in part on each side of the car and in part on each side of the conveyor means, said oor of the car body having an opening therein for the passage of the bulk material from the car body on to that end of the conveyor means adjacent the said vertical axis.

7. A bulk material conveying and distributing railroad car construction embodying therein an underframe and wheeled means for running engagement upon the rails of a railway track, a car body mounted upon said underframe, said car body having a floor and sides the oor being located above the underframe, at least in part, to provide a space between the top of the underframe and the underside of the floor, elongated conveyor means mounted under the car oor in said space, means providing a substantially vertical axis adjacent one end of the conveyor means and about which axis the conveyor means can be swung from an inoperative position disposed longitudinally under the car floor into selected operative positions in which the other end of the conveyor means extends outwardly beyond either side of the car body, and means for imparting swinging movement to the conveyor means between said positions, said conveyor swinging means including hydraulic cylinders each pivotally connected at one end to an associated side of said conveyor means, each including an extensible and retractible piston and cable means associated with each cylinder, each attachedat one end to a xed part of the car and each attached at the other end to the piston of the associated cylinder, said floor of the car body having an opening therein for the passage of the bulk material from the car body on to that end of the conveyor means adjacent the said vertical axis.

8. ,A bulk .material conveying and distributing railroad caruconstruction embodying therein an underframe and wheeled means for running engagement upon the rails of a railway track, a car body mounted upon said underframe, said car body having a oor and sides the iloor being located above the underframe, at least in part, to provide a space between the top of the underframe and the underside of the floor, elongated conveyor means mounted under the car floor in said space, means providinga substantially vertical axis adjacent one end of the conveyor meansuand about which axis the conveyor means can be'swung` from an inoperative position disposed "longitudinally under the car floor into selected operative positions in which the other end of theconveyor means extends outwardly beyond either side or the carl] body, means for imparting swinging movement .to the conveyor means between said positions, said iloor of the car body having an opening therein for the passage of t the bulk material from the car body onto that end ofthe conveyor means adjacent the said vertical axis, and means mounted on and swingable with the conveyor for driving the same.

9. A bulk material conveying and distributing railroad car construction embodying therein an underframe and wheeled means for running engagement upon the rails of a railway track, a car body mounted upon said underframe, said car body having a oor and sides the floor being located above the underframe, at least in part, to provide a space between the top of the underframe and the underside of the floor, elongated conveyor means,

including a frame structure and an endless belt, mounted4 under the car floor in said space, means providing a substantially vertical axis adjacent one end of the conveyor means andabout which axis the conveyor means can be swung from an inoperative position disposed longitudinally under the car oor into selected operative positionsV in which the other end of the conveyor means extends outwardly beyond either sideof the car body, meansl for imparting swinging movement to the conveyor meansy between said positions, said floor of the car body having; an opening therein for the passage of the bulk material from the car body on to that end of the conveyor means adjacent the said vertical axis, and motor means mounted at each side of one end of the conveyor frame means for driving the conveyor belt.

l0. A bulk material conveying and distributing railroad car construction embodying therein an underframe and wheeled means for running engagement upon the rai-ls of a railway track, a car body mounted upon said underframe, said car body having a oor and sides the floor being located above the underframe, at least in part, to provide a space between the top of the underframe and the underside of the oor, elongated conveyor means mounted under the car floor in said space and including a frame and an endless belt, means providing a substantially vertical axis adjacent one end of the conveyor means and about which axis the conveyor means can be swung from an inoperative position disposed longitudinally under the car oor into selected operative positions in which the other end of the conveyor means extends outwardly beyond either side ot the car body, means.

providing xed turn table plates above and below the conveyor frame adjacent the axis end, bearing means between the top and bottom portions of said end of the conveyor frame and said turn table plates, and means for p 11. A bulk material conveying and distributing railroad car construction embodying therein an underframe including a longitudinally disposed center sill and wheeled l means for running engagement upon the rails of a railway track, a car body mounted upon said underframe, said car body having a floor andsides, portions of` the iloor and sill being spaced vertically `apart to provide an elongated transverse recess therebetween, elongated conveyor means mounted in said transverse recess, means providing'. a substantially vertical axis adjacent one end of the body, andineans for imparting swinging movement to the conveyor means between said positions, said floor of thecar body having an opening therein for the passage of the bulk material from the car body on to that end of the Calavera?masssdantthe s aid vertical axis.

l1 2. A bulk material conveying and distributing railroad car'construction embodying therein an underfrarne including a longitudinally disposed horizontal center sill and wheeled means for running engagement upon the rails of va railway track, a car body mounted upon said underfrarne, said car body having a iioor and sides, portions of the floor of the car positioned upwardly of the horizontaltop of the center sill to provide an elongated transverse recess therebetween, elongated conveyor means mounted in said transverse recess, means providing a substantially vertical axis adjacent one end of the conveyor means andabout which axis the conveyor means can be swung from an inoperative position disposed longitudinally under the car iioor into selected operative posi: tions in which the other end of the conveyor means extends outwardly beyond either side of the car body, and means for imparting swinging movement to the conveyor means'between said positions, said floor of the car body having an opening therein for the passage of the bulk material from the car body on to that end of the conveyor means adjacent the said vertical axis.

13. A bulk material conveying and distributing railroad car construction embodying therein an underfrarne and wheeled means for running engagement upon the rails of a railway track, a car body mounted upon said underfrarne, said car body having a iloor'and sides, the oor being located above the underfrarne, at least in part, to provide a space between the top of the underfrarne and the underside of the floor, elongated conveyor means mounted under the car floor in said space, means providing'a substantially vertical axis adjacent one end of the conveyor means and about which axis the conveyor means can be swung from an inoperative position disposed longitudinally under the car oor into selected operative positions in which the other end of the conveyor means extends outwardly beyond either side of the car body, and means for imparting swinging movement to the conveyor means between said positions, said door of the car body having an opening therein for the passage of the bulk material from the car body on to that end of the conveyor means adjacent the said vertical axis, and at least a part o f the iloor adjacent said opening including portionssloping upwardly and outwardly toward the ad.- jacent sides of the car.

14. A bulk material conveying and distributing railroad car construction embodying therein an underframe and wheeled means for running engagement upon the rails of` a railway track, a car body mounted upon said underfrarne, said car body having a oor, sides and at least oneV end wall the floor being located above the underfrarne, atleast in partto provide a space between the top of the underfrarne and the underside of the door, elongated conveyor means mounted under the car door in said space, means providing a substantially vertical axis adjacent one en d of the conveyor means and about which axisV thek conveyor means can be swung from an inoperativc'position disposed longitudinally under the car floor into 'selected operative positions in which the other end of the conveyor means extends outwardly beyond either side of the car body, said axisbeing adjacent an end wall of the car body, means for impartingswinging movement Vto the conveyor means between said positions, said floor of the car body having an opening therein for the passage of the bulk material from the lcar body on to that end of the conveyorV means adjacent the said vertical axis, and atleast a part of the floor adjacent said opening inclndingportions slopingl upwardly and outwardly toward the adjacent side and end wall of the car.

15; A bulk material conveying and distributing railroad car construction'embodying therein an underfrarne' andjwhee'ledgmeansYfor running engagement upon the rails of' a railway/track, Va `car kbodyj mounted *upon said underrame, said carb'ody having a floor, Sides and at least one end wall the-floor being located above'the 'underframe, at least lin part, 'to provide 'a space between Athe top of the underframe and the underside of the floor, elonf y gated conveyor means mounted under the car floor in said space, means providing a substantially vertical axis adjacent one end of the conveyor means and about which axis the conveyor means can be swung from an inoperf ative position disposed longitudinally under the c ar oor into selected operative positions in which the other end of the conveyor means extends outwardly beyond either side of the car body, said axis means being adjacent said end wall, and means for imparting swinging movement to the conveyor means between said positions, said oor of the car body having. an opening therein for the passage of the bulk material from the car body on to that end of the conveyor means adjacent the said Vvertical axis, land a drag line scraper in the body of the car movable in both directions longitudinally thereof selectively to move bulk material toward or away from said iloor opening.

16. A bulk material conveying and distributing railroad car construction embodying therein two railway cars provided with wheeled means for running engagement upon the rails of a railway track, each including a body having a door, sides and one end wall, means couplingy the cars together with the open ends of the car bodies in adjacent but spaced confronting relationship, means bridging said space between adjacent carends and form-A ing an articulated joint comprising door and sides join-v ing the door and sides of the cars, elongated conveyor means mounted under the car Hoor, means providing a substantially vertical axis adjacent one end of the conveyor means and about which axis the conveyor means can be swung from an inoperative position disposed longi-V tudinally under the car tloor into selected operative positions in which the other end of the conveyor means extends outwardly beyond either side ofthe car body, said axis being adjacent the end wall of one ot the cars, means for imparting swinging movement to the conveyor means between said positions, said floor of the car body having an opening therein for the passage of the bulk material from the car body on to that end of the conveyor means adjacent the said Vertical axis, and means for selectively moving bulk material longitudinally of said car bodies in either direction toward or away from said oor opening.

17. The arrangement set forth in claim 16 in which the means for moving the bulk` material longitudinally of the cars comprises a drag line scraper mechanism.

18. The arrangement set forth in claim 16 wherein the door portion of at least part of the cars extends upwardly and outwardly toward the sides of the cars.

19. The arrangement set forth in claim 16 wherein at least the floor portion adjacent the said floor opening ex,- tends upwardly and outwardly toward the sides and adjacent end wall of the car.

20. A dirt disposal car construction for railway ballast conditioning apparatus and embodying a pair of coupled railway cars each having wheels for running engagement upon the rails of a railway track and coupled ltogether at one end so ,as to leave aspace therebetween, each car body having a pair of sides and an end and-a floor portion,4 means bridging said space from the doors of said cars and lexible means, `bridging said space vbetween the sides of said car body, said two last mentioned means affording from said opening, a drag 'line scraper arranged for move# ment longitudinally of saidcar body in either direction toward or away vfrom said opening, power means mounted on said one end of `said framing, pulley'means onthe ends of 'said car anddrag lines trained over said pulley 13 means and connected to said power means and said scraper respectively.

21. A bulk material conveying and. distributing railroad car construction embodying therein a plurality of railway ears provided with wheeled means for running engagement upon the rails of a railway track7 each car including an underframe and a body having a floor and sides, the front end ot' the body at the front end of the plurality of cars having an end Wall cross-connecting the sides, the rear end of the car body at the rear end of the plurality of cars having an end Wall cross-connecting the sides and the remaining ends of the car bodies being open, means coupling the cars together with the open ends of the car bodies in adjacent but spaced confronting relationship, means bridging the space between adjacent car ends and forming an articulated joint7 comprising floor and sides adjoining the floor and sides of the cars, elongated conveyor means mounted under the ioor of one of said cars, means providing a sasbtantially vertical axis adjacent one end of the conveyor means and about which axis the conveyor means can be swung from an inoperative position disposed longitudinally under the car floor into selected operative positions in which the other References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 311,468 Brown Feb. 3, 1885 548,527 Dixon Oct. 22, 1895 993,590 Fleming May 30, 1911 2,052,867 Cartzdafner et al Sept. 1, 1936 2,439,001 Hippard Apr. 6, 1948 2,503,129 Pantz Apr. 4, 1950 2,564,020 Mengel Aug. 14, 1951 2,613,800 Merck Oct. 14, 1952 2,630,928 McCombs Mar. 10, 1953 

